healthier

Here’s Your Weekly Wednesday #GentleNudge To Get You Over The Hump…
and into the weekend!

[ Meditation… Part 1 of 3 ]

Have you ever wondered this about meditation?

I’ve been reading a lot about it and
feel the benefits from it but what exactly does meditation do for the body?
I know it activates certain parts of the brain but I’m not clear on what exactly that means.

One of my clients asked me this in my inbox and I thought it would be a great series to dive into with you.

Meditation can structurally change your brain… “thickening some areas, and making others less dense”…

Similarly, we are mammals, and meditation allows you to attune to the silent messages your body tells you to signal happiness, balance, and yes, even illness. Body Scanning Meditation awakens you to what your body needs and wants to tell you:

[ The Mighty Powers of Meditation, Pt 1 ]

Science has shown that mindfulness meditation can affect gene expression, which means that not only your body changes, but your potential for illness such as diabetes, heart-attack and dementia are lessened, too!

Curious to learn more? Just check what Meditation can do for the Body, Mind and Spirit (courtesy of The Huffington Post):

You can be yourself!

As a youth, Levine was incarcerated several times. His first book, Dharma Punx, details teenage years filled with drugs, violence, and multiple suicide attempts—choices fuelled by disillusionment with American mainstream culture. His substance abuse started early in life—at age six he began smoking marijuana—and finally ended in a padded detoxification cell in juvenile prison 11 years later. It was in this cell where he hit “an emotional rock bottom” and began his vipassana practice “out of a place of extreme drug addiction and violence” While incarcerated, he saw for the first time how the practice his father taught him gave him the tools to relieve the fear and uncertainty that pervaded his life.

One notable aspect of Buddhist Dharma is the path of our choices, the actions past and present and the intention for future action (Buddhist Law of Karma). Levine’s past—addiction, incarceration, violence, initial rejection of Buddhism and meditation—are all defining characteristics of his writings and teachings. “We all sort of have a different doorway to dharma or spiritual practice. Suffering is a doorway. For me it was the suffering of addiction, violence and crime which opened me at a young age, 17 years old. I was incarcerated, looking at the rest of my life in prison and thought, ‘Maybe I will try dad’s hippie meditation bullshit.’ Suffering opened me to the possibility of trying meditation.”

He currently leads Dharma and vipassana meditation retreats and workshops across the United States and teaches weekly meditation classes in Los Angeles. A member of the Prison Dharma Network, Levine works with juvenile and adult prison inmates, combining meditation techniques with psychotherapy. He “explores how they can have a deeper understanding of what has happened and what they need to do in order to be free, on many levels—free from prison, free from the trauma of the past.”

He has helped found several groups and projects including the Mind Body Awareness Project, a non-profit organization that serves incarcerated youths. Introducing them to the Buddha’s teachings. He lists the 14th Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ram Dass, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Norman Fischer, and Sylvia Boorstein as his teachers.

[ Question For You ]

You balanced?

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

[ Question For You ]

What was your favorite Gentle Nudge?

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

My 30 Day Yoga Challenge, Day 26

(Speak. Add Fire.)

[ Yes! ]

I went to my weekly Yoga Basics class today. I really enjoy the teacher and I appreciate the way she explains everything. Even though my 30 Day Unlimited Pass expires in 5 days, I’m thinking I’ll still head to her class next week to finish off the year in a big way.

Through her class, I’ve been able to say YES to opening up myself to the experience of yoga; I am more full and relaxed in my practice than I was before I started attending her sessions.

[ The Experience ]

At the top of the hour in today’s class as she requested me to do so, I reminded my teacher to repeat the answer to my question I asked privately in last week’s session about why we breathe the way we do in Ocean Breathing. Click here to learn about it and you can also view a video below:

I was always told to breath through my nose, and it is also the natural way we breathe as infants. So when our teacher encouraged us to breathe through our mouths last week, I had to question the philosophy behind it.

Though shy to speak up last week, I am glad I did.

Last week, she answered me, saying that (in a nutshell), open-mouth Ocean Breathing allows you to get the mechanics down until you are comfortable and able to do it with closed mouth. Then she said, “that’s a real good question. In fact, the whole class should hear the answer. Remind me next week.”

So, I did.

[ The Takeaway ]

This week, we began the class and she asked me to repeat my question to the entire class before she got into her explanation. She then said, that just because a teacher is a teacher, doesn’t mean you have to just trust everything without asking questions, or making it work for your body. It felt as though she was giving me a nod for speaking up and questioning, so that I could make my practice more personal and meaningful for myself.

It was liberating. Freeing, even.

This set the tone for me to add a lil’ more fire into my poses tonight. I did things that I had not attempted in this 30 Day Yoga Challenge, simply because my mind told me I wouldn’t be able to do it.

But, I did them anyway.

As I allowed myself to speak, I added more fire to my practice.

I breathed more expansively tonight, and the tiredness I felt when I arrived to class, after an hour of kickboxing, had turned into a peacefulness of

“I can do anything.”

[ Question For You ]

How do you feel when you stretch your comfort zone?

Please comment below!

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

My 30 Day Yoga Challenge, Day 25

(Enjoy Simplicity)

[ Do What Feels Good ]

[ The Experience ]

On this 25th day of my 30 Day Yoga Challenge, I am grateful that I get as much out of doing my practice at home as I do going to the studio.

Today I have a lot of clients that I am working with, so getting to the yoga studio for a 75-minute practice would just add stress because I would feel rushed. So, as I intentionally did poses that felt good, that were simple and that fit my schedule, I came out as rejuvenated as if I’d gone for 75-minutes at the studio vs the 20-minutes I did at home.

[ The Takeaway ]

I will continue to do yoga after this challenge. I trust myself to feel my way into doing what feels good for my mind, body and soul, which gives me the confidence that I will always know what I need in the moment as I integrate yoga into my day.

Busy or not, there’s always room for yoga.

And the more I enjoy the simplicity in allowing myself to embrace the moments I can fit it in, the more I enjoy yoga as something that is accessible and doable.

[ Question For You ]

Have you tried yoga yet?

Please comment below!

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

2 Minutes With Tera Season 1 Finale!

2 Minutes With Tera ~ Season 1 Finale

Thank you for watching! Season One is now over. Look out for Season Two February 2015. In the meanwhile, listen and subscribe to The DJ Health Coach Podcast on iTunes for weekly music, wellness and inspiration!

Click the image to Listen and Subscribe to The DJ Health Coach Podcast

“2 Minutes With Tera” is a short series dedicated to helping you REmix Your Life through interesting life concepts.

My 10 Day Meditation Challenge, Day 6

(Release Tension)

[ The Experience ]

100 days ago, I challenged myself to meditate and chant for 40 consecutive days.

I did it! Today is my 100th consecutive day of meditating and chanting daily. Earlier, I attended a Yoga of Sound workshop at my yoga studio, and between that and coming home to meditate, I found that my body released more of the tension I have built up the last few days working through some deadlines I have for work. (Luckily, I got through one of them!)

Sitting to meditate today, I was so surprised when the 10 minutes was up… it flew by! Regardless, I know it was beneficial.

[ My thoughts about Headspace ]

Headspace is quite easy-to-use and interactive. The use of videos to present value alongside the meditations are great tools to help you understand the practice of meditation:

I love how I can track my progress and be a part of a larger community of simultaneous meditators. I also love that you can invite others to participate with you…

If you are reading this and want to join the challenge, add me to your Headspace App: “coachterag@gmail.com”.

[ The Takeaway ]

After the 10th day, I am thinking I may not continue with Headspace app, simply because I am used to just doing it without an app, and I have a guided meditation that I enjoy. But, that’s in the future, still. For now, I see that no matter how I choose to meditate, the key is to carve some time to do it because in the silence I am able to hear my body speak by way of aches and pains. As I listen, I can breath into those spaces, as needed, and my tension is released.

In a nutshell, meditation is good stuff! It truly is great for the body, mind and soul.

[ Question For You ]

Do you use meditation daily? If so, how has it helped you?

Please comment below!

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

****

Make sure you listen and subscribe to my weekly podcast!
Music. Wellness. Inspiration.

[ Question For You ]

When you have huge deadlines, how to do you fit in breaks?

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

****

Make sure you listen and subscribe to my weekly podcast!
Music. Wellness. Inspiration.

My 30 Day Yoga Challenge, Day 20

(Make It Happen)

[ Find The Time ]

Ever have those days when everything is flowing creatively? Things flow so well, you don’t want to stop what you’re doing because what you’re doing is so… yummy?

Today was like that. It was like every moment I was in the zone.

I felt unstoppable, so I didn’t stop.

Neither did time. On days like these, how do you find the time for self care?

[ The Experience ]

I had planned on getting to a Yoga class today, and then time flew by whilst I was having fun doing what I love to do. As I co-created with the Universe, as Health Coach to my clients, including one who called me unexpectedly for guidance; and as DJ at my weekly Wednesday residency, time slipped by and my plan to attend class became a passing thought.

Did this stop me? Of course not!

I did my practice as soon as I returned from my gig. I made it happen because I made a commitment to myself to do Yoga today. My plans changed, but my intention didn’t.

[ The Takeaway ]

When you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it done, no matter what.

On this 20th Day of my 30 Day Yoga Challenge, I am proud of myself for taking the 5 minutes I did today to continue moving forward for my Self.

What I enjoyed the most? Every moment of my intentional, 5 minute practice today.

Because Yoga is breathing; and with every breath, I tapped into my essence.

[ Question For You ]

Do you allow yourself flexibility when in pursuit of goals?

Please comment below!

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

****

Make sure you listen and subscribe to my weekly podcast!
Music. Wellness. Inspiration.

My 30 Day Yoga Challenge, Day 19

(Trusting The Breath)

[ Thank You ]

How often do you say thank you to your breath?

I mean, really show gratitude… by honoring your breath, by trusting it?

…Trusting that your breath will sustain you and your body through anything?

I have overcome asthma as a child and into my late-20s, so I know what it’s like to not be able to breathe, and then be thankful for the breath. But, now, I say thank you to my breath, simply because I am learning to trust her.

[ The Experience ]

I did a Yoga Basics class today, and even though I was a bit tired from my hour of Kickboxing prior to class, I found that I really allowed myself to rely on my breath to carry me through. AND IT WORKED! At one point, I was even called up as one of the two yogis (am I a yogi? lol) to demonstrate body types to the class, and how all bodies are different… but that yoga is for every body.

No matter the ability. No matter the disability.

I felt empowered today and really felt the energy within me (I felt my belly get hot with energy today) and around me (I felt my arms were slicing through the invisible life force energy as though it were thick). I felt grounded and solid.

[ The Takeaway ]

We can chose to let life happen around us, or we can breathe and make things happen for us. Period.

[ Question For You ]

Are you breathing?

Please comment below!

Here’s to your health, happiness and WHOLENESS!

~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG! If this is your first time, make sure to Follow me! Oh, and Please share! You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! 🙂

****

Make sure you listen and subscribe to my weekly podcast!
Music. Wellness. Inspiration.

What People Say About Tera*

“Tera had such a positive spirit. She made me feel comfortable and it felt as if I’d known her for years.
She was very organized and had a great plan as to how she could assist me in the areas that I truly needed assistance.”
~Deidra, Fort Washington, MD

“Woozers!! This woman is good. She made me feel so comfortable and created a atmosphere so fun and enjoyable, I naturally opened up to her. I would highly reccomend doing a health history with her. I felt like she was really “listening” and I felt she was really taking it in.. She is going to be an amazing health coach I cant wait to see where her journey takes her! You Rock Tera!!”
~ Jade, Orange County, CA

“I was instantly at ease with Tera. She has a phenomenal presence and genuinely knows her health stuff.
But it is also evident to me that she not only knows about health, she authentically lives it!”
~Russell, Chicago, IL

“Tera is very easy to talk to, and has great insight and intuition.
Very professional, and yet created a very comfortable environment to open up in.”
~Lynell, Arlington Heights, IL

Interested in Working With A Health Coach?

Get the Blog Profits Blueprint 2.0!

****

If you like my daily blog posts,
Join my Weekly Newsletter!
You'll gain access to content I don't feature anywhere on my blog to help you really tap into your FULL POTENTIAL....and for a LIMITED TIME, as a gift for joining my newsletter,you will receive the FREE 5-Page Special Report,

“How To Create More Time To Do What You Love Using 5 Powerful And Easy Steps”

****

You deserve all the goodness
coming to you!

****

~~

Looking to get happier and healthier, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?Are You Ready to Experience Your Life… REmixed™?

Book an Appointment With Mefor a FREE 50 minute Life-REmixing Session!

I'll get your message.PS: You can be anywhere in the world, as I conduct most of my sessions via Skype or my Free Conference Line. :-) I currently work with clients in the UK, Los Angeles, New York and Canada.

Blogs I Follow

[ DISCLAIMER ]

I am an Intuitive Health Coach and I value education. The information that I provide herein is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, but to inform you, the reader, of alternative methods for healing...

Please also keep in mind that I find a lot of my information from Third Parties and share it here on my blog. By participating in reading my blog, you acknowledge and agree that the Third Party Content is not created by Tera "Nova Jade* Greene and is shared with you, the reader, for educational and informational purposes only, and in no way do they guarantee a pledge or endorsement by Tera for you, the reader, to take action on what the Third Parties suggest or recommend on their sites.

In conclusion, please understand that this site provides general information only and is never a substitute for professional and medical advice. MOST IMPORTANTLY, Please consult your health care provider if you suspect a serious health concern. Your health is your wealth... don't delay in taking the proper steps in saving your life!

A blog is meant to inform.
Taking ACTION is meant to create change.

~~~~

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG!
If this is your first time here, I Welcome YOU!
I also encourage you to FOLLOW ME to stay up to date on when I post.
Oh, and Please share my blog and posts...You never know who you will inspire and motivate by simply passing the info along as I have for you! :-)